Apparatus for perforating pipe strings



Dec. 5, 1961 J. w. KENNEDAY 3,011,550

APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING PIPE STRINGS Fild Aug. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN W. KENN EDAY,

ra ga ATTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOHN W. KENNEDAY,

FIG. IA.

ATT

FIG.IB.

ited States Patent 3,011,550 APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING PIPE STRINGS John W. Kenneday, Houston, Tex., assiguor, by mesne The present invention is directed to apparatus for perforating pipe strings. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus for perforating a selected pipe string in a well having a plurality of pipe strings therein. In its more specific aspects, the invention is con cerned with perforating at least one of a plurality of eccentrically placed pipe strings in a well bore.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrical-ly positioned coextensive pipe strings therein for penetrating one of the pipe strings at a time, which includes a pipe string arranged in and forming part of one of said pipe strings at a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated. The section has an interior configuration different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of said one pipe string and is arranged relative to the other pipe string such that the interior configuration of said section is oriented away from said other pipe string. An elongated perforator provided with perforating means is movable through said one pipe string, the perforator having a dimension only sufficiently smaller than said section such that it is movable therethrough and has at least a portion of its exterior conforming to the interior configuration of said section whereby said perforator on moving through said section is oriented to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string.

It is contemplated in the practice of the present invention that the cross-sectional interior configuration of said pipe section may be rectangular, triangular or substantially triangular, elliptical, ovoid, or provided with any shape which will allow a conforming shape on a per- J.

moving through the means is oriented properly so that it' perforates only the pipe string through which it is moving.

It is also contemplated that a plurality of pipe sections may be provided in one or more of the parallel pipe strings with each section oriented relative to the other pipe string such that the perforator on moving through said section is oriented to position the perforator such that on firing the perforating means carried by the perforator the pipe section is penetrated and the other pipe string is not penetrated. It is also contemplated that each of the several pipe strings may be providedwith pipe sections or means in pipe sections for orienting a gun perforator having a conforming shape to the pipe sections to, penetrate only the pipe string through which the gun perforator is moving. In the present invention, it is further contemplated that the interior configuration of the pipe sections in one pipe string may be similar to or different from the interior configuration of the pipe sections in the other pipe strings, with the gun perforator movable through the pipe strings also having exterior configura 3,011,550 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 tions conforming to the interior configuration of the respective pipe string through which it is moved.

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which FIG. 1 is a front view of parallel casing strings cemented in a well bore with a gun perforator arranged in a pipe section having a special configuration;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken along the line 1A-1A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along the line 1B1B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a front view of a modified embodiment of the present invention in which pipe sections are provided with means therein providing a different configuration from the interior configuration of the rest of the pipe;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further modification of the present inven tion showing spaced apart means and pipe sections of parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe string;

FIG. 5a is a view taken along the lines 5a5a of FIG. 5; 7

FIG. 5b is a view taken along the lines 5b5b of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a modified gun perforator with means on its lower end;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of parallel pipe sections having perforators of different shapes arranged therein;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 3 showing a further modification of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, showing a further modification of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. v11.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, numeral 11 designates a well bore which has been drilled to penetrate a plurality of subsurface earth formations, zones, sands, strata, horizons 12, 13 and- 14, which may be productive of hydrocarbons. Arranged: in the well bore 11 are parallel pipe strings 15 and 16, which are cemented in the well bore 11 by cement 17. The pipe strings 15 and 16 are eachprovided with sec- 4 tions 18 and 19, respectively, which for purposes of description only may have a shape as mentioned before but which is preferably oval or elliptical in cross section. Run in through the pipe string 16 on a wire line or flexible lowering means such as cable 20 and attached thereto is an elongated perforator 21 which may be a bullet gun or shaped charge perforator or may be a chemical or mechanical type perforator. Preferably, however, p'erforator 21 is a shaped charge perforator provided with a plurality of shaped charges 22. The perforator 21 is provided with at least its upper end 23 shaped to conform with the interior configuration of the section 19 such that when the perforator 21 is lowered on wire line 20 to ,within the section 19, it has to be rotated or oriented to pass freely therethrough and will only pass therethrough when in its proper position. This allows the shaped charges 22 to be positioned to fire in a predetermined or selected direction such that the pipe section 19 will be perforated in the zone 12 as may be desired without perforating the pipe section 18 of the pipe string 15. By providing pipe sections of selected interior configuration and with perforating means of corresponding or conforming shape but smaller in dimension, it is possible to perforate a hydrocarbon productive zone and produce therethrough without perforating another parallel pipe through which simultaneousproduction may be had from a vertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zone penetrated by the well bore.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the well bore 11 has parallel pipe strings 3i and 31 arranged therein and cemented into place with cement 32. Like in FIGURES 1 and 2, the well penetrates the horizons or zones 12, 13 and 14, which may be productive of hydrocarbons such as oil and gas. In this embodiment of the present invention, the pipe strings 30 and 31 are fluidly interconnected by a passageway 33 formed by an interconnecting means 34. Also in this embodiment pipe sections 35 and 36, respectively, are provided in pipe strings 3i? and 31. The interior of the pipe section 35, is provided with a means 37 which defines an irregular shape or surface 38 shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The pipe section 36 in pipe string 31 is provided with means 39 which provides a rectangular or oval shape such that when a gun perforator or perforators having exterior surfaces corresponding to the irregular shape 38 or to the opening defined by the means 39 are moved through the respective sections 35 and 36, the gun perforators are oriented such that the perforating surface is pointed away from the other pipe string, the perforating surface of each of the perforators being arranged relative to the orienting surface such that the perforating surface is always pointed away from the other pipe strings when moved through the respective section having a configuration to which its outer surface conforms.

Referring now to FIGURES to 51) inclusive, a modified embodiment is shown in which there is positioned in well bore 11 a plurality of parallel pipe strings 44 and 45 with the pipe string 44 being provided with sections 46, each being provided with means 47 providing an interior configuration for the sections 46 different from the interior configuration of the rest or greater portion of the pipe string 44. The pipe string 45 also has arranged thereon pipe sections 48, each of which is provided with means 49 providing an interior configuration for the sections 48 diiferent from the interior configuration of the rest or greater portion of the pipe string 45.

Suspended by a wire line or other suspending means such as a cable 50 in'pipe string 44 is a perforator 51 provided with perforating means 52 which has an upper end, portion 53, having a configuration conforming to the configuration of the means 47 in the sections 46 of pipe string 44 such that when the perforator 51 is lowered or moved therethrough, the perforator 51 is oriented such that the means 52 are pointed away from the pipe string 45 to allow the means 52 when operated to perforate only the pipe string 44.

Arranged in pipe string 45 and suspended there-in by a wire line or other suspending means 54 is a perforator 55, which, like perforator 51, is providedwith perforating means 56. Perforator 55 has its upper end 57 shaped to conform with the interior configuration of means 49 such that when the perforator 55 is moved through the means 49 in the sections 48, it is oriented such that the perforated means 56 is pointed in a direction away from the pipe string 44 such that only the pipe string 45 is perforated when the means 56 are operated or fired.

In FIGURES 1, 2, and 5-5b inclusive, the upper end of the perforator is shaped or conformed to a configuration similar to that of the interior of the pipe section. FIGURE 6 shows a modified embodiment of a gun perforator such as 69, lowerable on a wire line 61 and which is provided With perforating means 62. In this embodiment the lower end 63 of the gun perforator has an exterior surface with a configuration conforming to the configuration of a selected pipe section of one of the pipe strings as shown in the several figures of the drawing. Thus when the perforator 6G is lowered or moved through the pipe string, it may have its lower end 63 positioned in one of the pipe sections or means below or adjacent a zone to be perforated such that the pipe suing or section in that zone may be perforated without piercing the other pipe string.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, a cross-sectional view is shown of parallel pipe strings 70 and 71, having pipe sections 72 and 73 of different configurations and having perforating means 74 and 75 of conforming configurations arranged therein. Thus the cross section of pipe section 70 is elliptical or oval while the cross section of pipe 71 is substantially triangular. In the showing of FIGURE 7, the perforating means would be arranged in the perforator 74 such that the pipe 71 would never be perforated, while in the perforator 75, the perforating means would be located such that the pipe string 76 would never be perforated.

It will be clear from the several figures of the drawing that one pipe string is so arranged relative to another pipe string such that the section of different internal configuration has a cross-sectional dimension oriented in a direction away from the periphery of an adjacent pipe string. Thus, when the portion of the perforator is lowered into the section, to enter the section, it must be oriented to conform that portion of its surface with the cross-sectional dimension of the section.

In the showing of FIGURE 3, especially, Where the pipe strings 30 and 31 are fluidly interconnected by passageway 33, the parallel pipe strings 3t and 31 may suitably be used for simultaneous production from a plurality of perforated zones and also the two pipe strings 30 and 31 may be used for workover and servicing operations. This may conveniently be accomplished by 10W- ering and seating a tubular member in one of the pipe strings above the fluid passageway 33 and sealing same in the sealed pipe string such that production may be had through one pipe string and through the other pipe string. When workover operations are to be performed, the tubular member would-be sealed above the passageway 33 such that fluid might be circulated through the passageway 33 from one pipe string to the other and then flowed through the other pipe string through a tubular member sealed above the passageway 33 in said other pipe string.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the showing of which is similar to FIG. 3, parallel pipe strings 60 and 61 are provided with pipe sections 35a and 36a having cross-sectional configurations the same as shown in FIG. 3, excepting that the configurations are continuous and extend the entire length of the pipe section.

The modification shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates parallel pipe strings 70 and 71 which are provided with pipe sections having internal configurations which are the same shape as that of FIG. 5. As shown, pipe string 70 is provided with pipe sections 47a which are vertically spaced apart and extend a greater length than the sections shown in FIG. 5. Pipe string 71 is provided with a pipe section 4% which is the same as that of FIG. 5 excepting that it is of greater length. 1

It will be understood that it is necessary to attach the two pipe strings together such as by strapping so as to retain their relative position as they are being placed in the borehole.

The present invention is of considerable importance and utility in that it is possible to complete a well in a plurality of hydrocarbon productive zones without using tubing and perforating the pipe strings in said well separately without perforating other of the parallel pipe strings. If apparatus were not provided for orienting the perforator for perforating only one pipe string, it would not be possible to obtain fluid simultaneously from separate spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent 1. Apparatus for use in a Well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein for penetrating one of said pipe strings at a time which comprises, in combination, a pipe section arranged in and forming part of one of said pipe strings at a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, said section having its interior surface of a configuration different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of said one pipestring, said one pipe string being arranged relative to another of said pipe strings such that said section has a cross-sectional dimension oriented away from the periphery of said another pipe string and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said one pipe string, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sufficiently smaller than said section to be movable therethrough and having at least a portion of its exterior surface conforming to the interior configuration of said section, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said section is oriented to conform said portion of its exterior surface with said cross-sectional dimension of said section to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cross-sectional interior configuration of at least a portion of said section is rectangular.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cross-sectional inten'or configuration of at least a portion of said section is substantially triangular.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cross-sectional configuration of at least a portion of said section is elliptical.

5. Apparatus in accordance With claim 1 in which the cross-sectional interior configuration of at least a portion of said section is irregular.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cross-sectional interior configuration of at least a portion of said section is ovoid.

7. Apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein in penetrating one of said pipe strings at a time which comprises, in combination, a pipe section arranged in and forming part of one of said strings at a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, said section having its interior surface of a configuration different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of said one pipe string, said one pipe string being arranged relative to another of said pipe strings such that said section is oriented away from the periphery of said other pipe string and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said one pipe string, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sufficiently smaller than said section to be movable therethrough and having an exterior surface conforming to the interior configuration of said section, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said section is oriented to conform said portion of its exterior surface with said cross-sectional dimension of said section to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

8. Apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein in penetrating one of said pipe strings at a time which comprises, in combination, a pipe section arranged in and forming part of one of said pipe strings at a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, said section having means arranged therein providing an interior surface of a configuration different from the configuration of the rest of said one pipe string, said means being positioned in said one pipe string relative to another of said pipe strings such that said means has a cross-sectional dimension oriented away from the periphery of said another pipe string and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said one pipe string, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sufiiciently smaller than the interior configuration means in said section to be movable therethrough and being provided with means having an exterior surface conforming to the surface of the interior configuration means, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said interior configuration means is oriented to conform said exterior surface means with said crosssectional dimension of said interior surface means to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

9. Apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein in penetrating one of said pipe strings at a time which comprises, in combination, a pipe section arranged in and forming part of one of said pipe strings at a point adjaeent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, said section having its interior surface of a configuration different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of said one pipe string, said one pipe string being arranged relative to another of said pipe strings such that said section has a cross-sectional dimension oriented away from the periphery of said another pipe string and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said one pipe string, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sufficiently smaller than said section to be movable therethrough and having its upper end portion of its exterior surface conforming to the interior configuration of said section, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said section is oriented to conform said portion of its exterior surface with said cross-sectional dimension of said section to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

10. Apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein in penetrating one of said strings at a time which comprises, in combination, a pipe section arranged in and forming part of one of said pipe strings at a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, said section having its interior surface of a configuration different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of said one pipe string, said one pipe string being arranged relative to another of said pipe strings such that said section has a cross-sectional dimension oriented away from the periphery of said another pipe string and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said one pipe string, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sufiiciently smaller than said section to be movable therethrough and having its bottom end portion of its exterior surface conforming to the interior configuration of said section, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said section is oriented to conform said portion of its exterior surface with said cross-sectional dimension of said section to position the perforating means to perforate said one pipe string only in a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

11. Apparatus for use in a well having parallel eccentrically positioned coextensive pipe strings therein in penetrating one of said pipe strings at a time which cornprises, in combination, pipe sections arranged in and forming part of each of said pipe strings to a point adjacent a hydrocarbon productive zone to be penetrated, each of said sections having its interior surface of a simi lar configuration to each other but different from the interior configuration of the greater portion of the pipe string in which the sections are arranged, said sections in one pipe string being arranged relative to the other pipe string such that each of said sections has a crosssectional dimension oriented away from the periphery of the other of said pipe strings and an elongated perforator provided with perforating means and movable through said pipe strings, said perforator having a cross-sectional dimension only sulficiently smaller than each of said sections to be movable therethrough and having at least a portion of its exterior surface conforming to the interior configuration of said sections, said perforating means being arranged relative to said portion of said exterior surface such that said perforator on entering and moving through said sections is oriented to conform said portion of its exterior surface with said cross sectional dimension of said section to position the perforating means to perforate only in said one pipe string through which it is moved a direction away from said other pipe string, said perforator being movable through said section only in said oriented position.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the interior configuration of said sections in one of said pipe strings is different from the interior configuration of said sections in another of said pipe strings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,162 Hewitt et al. Apr. 11, 1939 2,408,419 Foster Oct. 1, 1946 2,785,754 True Mar. 19, 1957 2,822,048 Tausch Feb. 4, 1958 2,858,107 Comerauer Oct. 28, 1958 I 

